The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-07-15
TEMPERANCE.
TRIMMlNs AND THE w. G. T. U,


"Most got'em, said Trimmins, the
rum-grocer. '.They will have to haul
their flag down soon"
Trimmins said this standing in the
door of store where he sold much
rum in the rear half, and very few
groceries in the front He said this
looking at building whose lower floor
was given to the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union.
They'll give their hall up soon,"
said Trimmins, rubbing his hands
and busting away. Perhaps I'll
move in there and sell my goods in
that very hall. Most played out. l |
see that Aunt Polly Wherein and Aunt
Patty Freeman are about the only ones
that 60 to their meetin's Most Gin out.
knew it would be so. Feenaticks
what oppose fair, legitimate business
must 'spect to come out in the rear,
and haul their flag down. told 'em
SO. There is Aunt Polly and Aunt
Patty. Got down to two. Flags a.
comm down. told 'em so.
Here Trimmins grinned and re-en-
tered his store, to sell customer one
pound of sugar and a gallon Of rum.
In the meantime those village ven
cradles, "Aunt Patty" and "Aunt
Polly" had entered the W. C. I. q.
hall
81 feel most like a-giving up, sister,"
remarked Aunt Patty. "You and Iare
about the only ones that come out to
our meetings."
Eyes, but I've been rather a-looking
for it. Folks take hold when thing
is new, when the boat is a starting out.
1t is the long pull that tells. Why we
used to have this room half full"
'Does look mournful," said Aunt
Patty.
"Well, I believe in holding or" re-
marked Aunt Polly again. you
know how it is in the army, where
most of the soldiers are ahead. They
must keep up the guard back to the
base of supplies; and that guarding
line may get very thin in some places,
but still it does q lot of good. 1t keeps
up the guard till the day of the battle,
you know. 1t may be weak line, but
it is line. Oh, if we hold on, some
thing will come along to help u.s."
Il wonder what we are keeping this
line up for" conjectured Aunt Patty.
'What is a-coming?"
Don't know, Patty. Keep it up,
say. How would it do, for an expert
ment, to change our hour 1--WE can shift
back again, you know, and put it in
the evening?''
1T might do good, and it certainly
won't do any harm. Then we might
see some of our old members back,
you know, and perhaps we can get
others out"
No organization is dead that has one
earnest member. As this union had
two, it was not only alive, but stirring
and strong.
81 hear, Sister Wherein, that Trim
minis, the grocer, says we are most
dead, and our flag will soon be hauled
down."
1.-The flag shall not be hauled down."
affirmed old lady Wherein. "He
bears us no good will. Perhaps he
would feel better if we would give him
our CUSTOM"
"Custom!' cried Aunt Patty, who
believed that rum must be boycotted.
''He will never get rich from my
pocket -
After this meeting, the town was no.
titled that the next meeting would be
in the evening, and that it was hoped
large attendance would be the result
When the evening came, the little
hall was brightly illuminated; but alas!
only Aunt Polly and Aunt Patty were
there. They looked at one another,
and looked at the clock, and looked at
the door, and then sighed.
"That Trimmins," said Aunt Patty,
"would be gratifed to know how few
we have, and 'twould be just like them
there at the store to come over and peek
in. have great mind to put the
curtains down"
"Let 'em look replied Aunt Polly,
with dignity. awe don't need like
Trimmins to have any screens or blinds
up at our windows. "What's that?"
She turned, and for the twentieth time
looked at the door. Did she hear
step? Some one was in the entry.
Could it be an emissary Of Trimmins?
The door opened, and in walked Squire
Stimson's widow.
81 thought would join YOU" she
said, mournfully. Weary heart, she
had known the evils of intemperance.
The Squire had his ''infirmity," and
there was John Stimson--if any body
could say that he was among the living.
He had been away from home for years,
and he not only had his fathers weak
ness, but rover's disposition.
''This is encouraging, declared
Aunt Polly. owe have enough in
prayer to claim the blessing
Trimmins did not think much of any
blessing that might attend the meet
ing. His patrons kept him informed
of the size of the attendance.
Il seed Aunt Polly a-going," re-
ported Billy Whipple.
Il seed Aunt Patty, sort of mourn
full, a-standing in the door, and a-wish-
in she counted half dozen more than
she did, cried Tobias Higgins.
Trimmins laughed, rubbed his hands,
and, nodding his head emphatically,
said: "Guess we've got 'em! That flag
is comm down"
Somebody reported that ''Stimson's
wilder" was seen standing in the lamp
light at the door,
"Wen," said Trimmins, "she makes
only three. After all this hollerin'
bout meetin' in the evenin, lightin'
up the hall, and so on, they can only
muster three at the meetin'! How
would it do, boys, to send somebody
over to see how they're gettin' along?
| Winders are low, YOU know"